National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
Date
1920
History
The Tailors and Garment Workers Union was established in 1920 after two smaller unions - from Scotland and England - merged. In 1932 and 1939, the National Tailors and Garment Workers Union grew from the existing union, to include both the Amalgamated Society of Tailors and Tailoresses and the United Ladies Tailors Trade Union. The ULTTU was made up of predominantly female Jewish garment workers.
In 1929, Sam Elsbury and Sarah Wesker - two Jewish-born communist trade union leaders in Hackney - split from the NUGTW and formed a breakaway union, the United Clothing Workers Trade Union, during the Rego and Polikoff strikes of the late 1920s. The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers had denounced Elsbury and Wesker's strikes.
As the UK garment and textile industry experienced competition from foreign markets and grew smaller through the latter half of the 20th century, so did NUTGW membership. The union eventually merged into a larger, broader union called the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Unions in 1991.
Like many trade unions, the NUGTW had strong links with the Labour party throughout its existence.
In 1929, Sam Elsbury and Sarah Wesker - two Jewish-born communist trade union leaders in Hackney - split from the NUGTW and formed a breakaway union, the United Clothing Workers Trade Union, during the Rego and Polikoff strikes of the late 1920s. The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers had denounced Elsbury and Wesker's strikes.
As the UK garment and textile industry experienced competition from foreign markets and grew smaller through the latter half of the 20th century, so did NUTGW membership. The union eventually merged into a larger, broader union called the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Unions in 1991.
Like many trade unions, the NUGTW had strong links with the Labour party throughout its existence.
